Columns

Body From the Collection of Pat Young Math Problems Ray and Bob, two government maintenance guys, were standing at the base of a flagpole, looking up. A woman walked by and asked what they were doing.

Body As local budget discussions commence statewide, it is imperative to stress that managing property taxes begins with controlling spending, at every level.

Body Mid-summer has passed and with it the morning serenade by the various birds nesting in my yard has come to a close. The young birds have grown and left the nest and there is no need to protect a nesting territory…so the birds shut up! Not every species has finished nesting.

Body The Callaway Village Board voted at their Aug. 5 meeting to raise water and sewer rates in Callaway. The present monthly water costs are $2.50 for residential, $1.50 for commercial, and $1.25 for sewer. The hospital, school, and rest home have higher rates.

Body Rural Economic Development. This is a subject that has been a central focus in statewide discussions for most of my adult life.

Body An Udder Kind “Oh what a lovely cow,” said the cute young miss from the city. “But why hasn’t it any horns?” There are many reasons,” replied the farmer.

Body I’ve written about “spider time” before and it is once again upon us. Spiders are everywhere! They are outside and inside.

Body August has arrived quickly, and I continue preparing for interim hearings and early discussions about potential legislation for the 2026 session. These hearings are a critical part of understanding the challenges Nebraskans face and shaping effective, responsive policy.

Body The Sense of a Goose When you see geese flying along in “V” formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following.

Body Why do you run? This was a question I was asked often back in the day when my belly was smaller and my feet weren’t affected by arthritis. My simple answer was because running, like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer, feels so good when you stop!